Conceptual view of high speed rail over the Altamont Pass west of Tracy, Calif.
Ran on: 08-14-2011
Arguments against high-speed rail in California sound much like the arguments against the building of the Golden Gate Bridge in the 1930s.
Ran on: 08-14-2011
Arguments against high-speed rail in California sound much like the arguments against the building of the Golden Gate Bridge in the 1930s.

This image provided by the California High Speed Rail Authority shows an artist's rendering of a high-speed train station. California's ambitious bullet train project is picking up momentum thanks to the $8 billion set aside for high-speed rail development in the economic stimulus package signed into law this week. The state is aggressively going after federal funding for the 800-mile high-speed rail system as it vies with a dozen designated high-speed rail corridors across the nation for a share of the money. (AP Photo/California High Speed Rail Authority) ** NO SALES **
Ran on: 08-14-2011
CALIFORNIA An artist's rendering shows a proposed high-speed rail station along the 800-mile system. California's trains would be electrically powered and travel at 220 mph, as specified by Proposition 1A. Supporters say the rail line is necessary and no more costly than expanding other forms of mass transit to serve a population that is expected to grow by 11 million by 2025, which would give California 48 million residents.
Ran on: 08-14-2011
CALIFORNIA An artist's rendering shows a proposed high-speed rail station along the 800-mile system. California's trains would be electrically powered and travel at 220 mph, as specified by Proposition 1A. Supporters say the rail line is necessary and no more costly than expanding other forms of mass transit to serve a population that is expected to grow by 11 million by 2025, which would give California 48 million residents.
Ran on: 09-19-2011
The California High-Speed Rail Authority's plans, as seen in a rendering, have generated lawsuits.
Ran on: 09-19-2011
The California High-Speed Rail Authority's plans, as seen in a rendering, have generated lawsuits.
Ran on: 09-19-2011
The California High-Speed Rail Authority's plans, as seen in a rendering, have generated lawsuits.

Photo: Anonymous, ASSOCIATED PRESS

This image provided by the California High Speed Rail Authority...

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This interior view of Transbay Terminal shows how high speed rail would operate in a large transit oriented station.
Ran on: 10-20-2008
A high-speed train depicted in the future Transbay Terminal illustrates how rail would work in a large transit-oriented station.
Ran on: 12-26-2008
A high-speed rail train is depicted in a future Transbay Terminal.
Ran on: 12-26-2008
A high-speed rail train is depicted in a future Transbay Terminal.
Ran on: 03-13-2009
This rendition of the Transbay Terminal shows how a high-speed rail train would look in the huge station.
Ran on: 09-27-2009
An artist's rendering shows how a high-speed rail would look in the Transbay Terminal. Hearings will address the San Francisco-San Jose leg this week.
Ran on: 10-26-2010
A rendering of the inside of the future Transbay Terminal in San Francisco shows how high-speed rail would operate in a large station.
Ran on: 10-26-2010
A rendering of the inside of the future Transbay Terminal in San Francisco shows how high-speed rail would operate in a large station.
Ran on: 11-25-2010
Artist's rendering of the future Transbay Terminal in S.F. shows a high-speed train in the station.
Ran on: 11-25-2010
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About two-thirds of California voters would like a second chance to decide whether to sell $9 billion in bonds to help pay for the state's high-speed rail system - and most of them would reject the measure in a new election, according to a Field Poll released today.

The idea of putting the bond measure before voters next year was endorsed by 64 percent of poll respondents. And 59 percent said they would vote it down, while 31 percent said they still support the bond measure. Ten percent were undecided.

The poll follows recent announcements that the project, which aims to take travelers from San Francisco to Los Angeles in about 2 hours and 40 minutes, will cost more than expected and take longer to complete.

The California High-Speed Rail Authority said in early November that the project could cost $98.5 billion, more than double previous estimates. Officials also pushed the projected completion date from 2020 to 2033.

The voters' position on the project is a departure from November 2008, when the bond measure passed with 52.6 percent approval.

The new Field Poll finds support for another vote on the issue is strong regardless of voters' political affiliations and how they voted on the 2008 measure.

Among Republicans, 73 percent would vote against the train funding; 49 percent of Democrats would say no.

Poll results also show that some supporters of the 2008 measure have changed their minds. Of those who voted for the bond, 37 percent now say they would vote against it, and 10 percent are undecided.

Of those who voted against, 96 percent are still against it.

A rail authority spokeswoman declined to comment on the voter sentiment.

The rail authority's public outreach efforts may not have turned public opinion to its side, but high-speed rail remains a topic of high public awareness. The poll reports that 77 percent of respondents have heard of the project.

The authority recently acknowledged that it spent $7.2 million on public relations efforts last fiscal year, and an additional $2.6 million is budgeted for this year.

The poll's findings are based on a survey conducted in English and Spanish between Nov. 15 and 27 of a random sample of 515 registered California voters. The margin of error is 4.4 percentage points.